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2008National Council of Teachers of Mathematicshttp://illuminations.nctm.org

Barbie Bungee NAME___________________________

In this activity, you will simulate a bungee jump using a Barbie

doll and rubber bands.

Before you conduct the experiment, formulate a conjecture:

I believe that _____ is the maximum number of rubber bands that will

allow Barbie to safely jump from a height of 400 cm.

Now, conduct the experiment to test your conjecture.

PROCEDURE:Complete each step below. As you complete each step, put a check mark in the box to the left.

Tape a large piece of paper to the wall from the floor to a height of about six feet.

Draw a line near the top to indicate the height from which Barbie will make each jump.

Create a double-loop to wrap around Barbies feet. A double-loop is made by securing onerubber band to another with a slip knot, as shown (below left).

Wrap the open end of the double-loop tightly around Barbies feet, as shown (below right).

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2008National Council of Teachers of Mathematicshttp://illuminations.nctm.org

Attach a second rubber band to the first one, again using a slip knot, as shown below.

With two rubber bands now attached, hold the end of the rubber bands at the jump line withone hand, and drop Barbie from the line with the other hand. Have a partner make a mark to

the lowest point that Barbie reaches on this jump.

Measure the jump distance in centimeters, and record the value in the data table in

Question 1. You may wish to repeat this jump several times and take the average, to ensure

accuracy. Accuracy is importantBarbies life could depend on it!

Repeatedly attach two additional rubber bands for each new jump, measure the jump

distance, and record the results in the data table.

When youve completed the data table, answer Questions 2-12.

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2008National Council of Teachers of Mathematicshttp://illuminations.nctm.org

1. Complete the data table below.

NUMBER OF

RUBBER BANDS (X)

JUMP DISTANCE IN

CENTIMETERS (Y)

2

4

68

10

12

2. Make a scatterplot of your data. Indicate the scale on each axis.

3. On the graph above, sketch a line of best fit.

4. What is the relationship between the number of rubber bands and jump distance?

x

y

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5. What is the equation for your line of best fit? (You may wish to use a graphing calculator for

this part of the lesson. Enter the rubber band data in L1, and enter the jump distance data for L2.)

6. What is the slope of your equation, and what does it represent in this context?

7. What is they-intercept of your equation, and what does it represent in this context?

8. Based on your data, what would you predict is the maximum number of rubber bands so that

Barbie could still safely jump from 400 cm?

Using your Line of Best Fit: ________________________________

Using your Regression Equation: ____________________________

9. Are your predictions reliable? Justify your answer. Be sure to consider your methods of

collecting, recording, and plotting data.

10.How do your predictions from Question 8 compare to the conjecture you made before doing theexperiment? What prior knowledge did you have (or not have) that helped (or hindered) your

ability to make a good conjecture?

11.In what ways did you contribute to the group while working on this project?

12.Use the space below to list any additional comments.